Some have dubbed their kind of songs x-rated, while others call it vulgar or lewd, but irrespective of the adjectives that have been used to describe these controversial songs, it all points to one thing – the use of sexually explicit words and anecdotes in music.
Expectedly, the contents of these songs have often pitched the artistes against the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the body saddled with the responsibility of sanitizing the airwaves.
Some of the top musicians who have continued to make waves in this industry including a few examples of even your popular artistes who are culpable of this lewd lyric syndrome.
SKALLEY MENTAL
Many who know fast-rising artiste, Adeyemi Lawal popularly known as Skalley Mental describe him as quiet and reserved. But on stage, those attributes are easily forgotten.
After featuring on the x-rated debut single entitled Damoche, the youthful artiste again followed it up with another song entitled Dadubule.
The popularity of his second hit song Dadubule rose and became a street lingo especially in the South West of the country.
Apparently in a bid to latch on its popularity, it attracted the attention of a Yoruba movie marketer who released a comedy of same title starring Afonja Olaniyi popularly known as Sanyeri.
WIZKID
The EME/ Convict music artiste whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun may have opened another chapter in his blossoming career with the release of his hit single entitled “Lowkey”.
Although the song is yet to come under the scrutiny of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), many who have listened to the song have described it as one of the most morally bankrupt songs to have emanated from this part of the divide.
In “Lowkey”, Wizkid brags about getting high on Ghanaian brewed herbal gin, Alomo Bitters, to having sex with an imaginary girl. The song has been harshly criticized for its open celebration of sex and alcohol.
Some even argued that this may explain why the musician in spite of his commercial success is yet to record any major corporate endorsement while new acts like MTN youth ambassador, Davido takes the shine.
In fact, it was learnt that the young musician was at the verge of striking a mouth-watering endorsement deal with a commercial bank but lost it at last minute when a dirty scandal about him siring a love child reared its ugly head
FLAVOUR
Interestingly, the Anambra State-born high-flying highlife/ hip hop musician got his big break on the wings of an x-rated remix entitled “Ashawo”.
The song which is delivered in Igbo language flagrantly and unabashedly makes use of sexual anecdotes and innuendoes.
In one instance, Chinedu Okolie popularly known as Flavour said that a woman’s breast would eventually “fall” whether old or young.
He has done other hits songs which are filled with sexually suggestive contents.
ABASS AKANDE OBESERE
He lays a heavy claim to the unenviable crown of the king in this music kingdom. In fact, Abass Akande Obesere otherwise known as Omo Rapala once branded himself as the Oba Asakasa (King of slangs) in an album of similar title in the early 1990s.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-born Fuji musician radically rode on the popularity of his shameless lewd songs to fame and prominence as an artiste under Sony Music. Obesere opened a new vista albeit a fading one for Fuji music with his pulsating and adrenalin-pumping rhythms laced with sexual anecdotes and innuendos.
With every album release, the self-professed protégé of Fuji Icon, Ayinde Sikiru Barrister churned out one nickname and slang after another adding to or reinventing street jargons among music lovers especially of Yoruba extraction. Some of them include Papa
Tosibe, Abasido, Egugun Becareful, Okokoriko, African Fuji Micheal Jackson and Oba Idan among others.
Matching words to pictures, the musician also popularized the use of scantily-clad dancers in his erotic music videos. In one of his most controversial videos entitled Apple Juice marketed by Bayowa Films, the hyper active singer featured eccentric Nollywood star, Cossy Orjiakor as one of his dancers.
MAY D
If he continues with the same treatment which he gave to his controversial debut single entitled Sound Track, the rising R&B/ hip hop sensation may just be on his way to becoming the anointed successor to the tiring Fuji artiste, Abass Akande Obesere.
The new Square Records signing is a brilliant vocalist whose immense talent has been showcased on the soar-away hit song entitled
Chop My Money by his benefactors, P Square.
It was therefore unsurprising that his song was the subject of a rumour ban by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
SAINT JANET
She is the alter ego of Abass Akande Obesere. Described by many as the queen of lewd music, Janet Kayode Iyun popularly known as St. Janet is a Juju artiste. The highly sought-after live performer caused a big stir when she made a debut with her album entitled Faaji Plus.
Interestingly, the controversial album instantly became a talking-point and an object of scorn from the church podium to the lawmakers’ chambers yet sold like a hot cake. While it was banned on radio and many homes, however at street corners and beer parlours, her songs still blare with gusto.
Not long after, the album attracted a ban from Music Advertising Association of Nigeria (MAAN).
Like Obesere, the plump sized lady instantly threw-up several nicknames for herself including General Overseer of St Bottles Cathedral and Pastor of Sinners Chapel.
But beyond her persona, the singer professes a responsible lifestyle. “I swear to God, no other man has slept with me since I got married to my hubby. I’ve no time for such. I dedicate my time to compose songs and look into how my band will get better,” she once declared.
DAMOCHE
“It’s just an attraction, an avenue for people to put their imaginative potentials, to get listeners to start wondering about the man behind the songs and long to hear or see him. That’s me, Damoche.”
That is how Olaniyan Damilola Ibrahim rationalizes his music. Since making his debut last year with the hit song Fall in the Circle (FITC), the young artiste has become a favourite among Disc Jockeys.
The fast-paced song makes no pretences about decorum and thrives on its unabashed use of sexually explicit words in a hip hop song delivered in Yoruba Language. Damoche claims to have been under shadows for 12 years as an up and coming artiste.
“I have no regrets for doing what I have done. In this industry, you do everything you can to be noticed,” pointed out the undergraduate of Lagos State University (LASU).
Terry G
“My first album was really great, I had really nice songs there, but I guess people weren’t ready to listen to ‘good’ music. That’s why I changed to what I do now’,” declared the hyper-active multi-talented musician.
Gabriel Amanyi popularly known as Terry G is in a class of his own. The self-styled Akpako Master combines an eccentric personality with a music that thrives on vulgar and explicit language.
From his debut album entitled Free Me to his sophomore, Ginjah Ur Swaggah, the son of a clergyman who describes his songs as Street Music makes innuendoes about sex and weed regularly
COSSY ORJIAKOR
Cossy Orjiakor is better remembered for flaunting her boobs than for her movie roles. Many of her fans will remember her controversial role as a skimpily-dressed dancer in Obesere’s raunchy video entitled Apple Juice.
As an actress, the Anambra State-born actress is very far from establishing herself in the movie industry after several years. But two years ago, the actress launched her music career with the release of a song entitled Me & You.
Characteristically, the video of the song parades the actress in a very revealing top barely covering her boobs. Early this year, the actress released another song entitled If You Want Me, laced with lewd lyrics.
AFROCANDY
Although Judith Chichi Opara Mazagwu otherwise known as Afro Candy juggles two roles as a struggling Nollywood actress and an artiste, however one common thread runs through both – sex appeal.
The controversial single mother of two left the shores of Nigeria after a half-realized dream as an actress for the United States in search of greener pastures. But she found more with the launch of a music career.
Afro Candy has been the subject of scorn from purists with the release of her song entitled Ikebe Na Money. The video which features raunchy scenes parades the actress and her dancers in skimpy outfits. At the moment, the busty actress is working on a soft-porn movie which she intends to release soon with a soundtrack.
